Northumberland

Northumberland, county, central Pennsylvania, U.S., consisting of a mountainous region in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley physiographic province bounded to the west by the Susquehanna and West Branch Susquehanna rivers. Other waterways include Chillisquaque, Shamokin, Mahanoy, and Mahantango creeks.

Shikellamy State Park, situated at the point where the West Branch Susquehanna and Susquehanna join, is named for an 18th-century Iroquois leader who governed the Susquehannock (Susquehanna) Indian village of Shamokin there; the site is now occupied by Sunbury, the county seat. The county was created in 1772 and named for Northumberland, Eng. Other communities include Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Milton, Kulpmont, and Watsontown.

The major economic activities are manufacturing (textiles and transportation equipment), agriculture (field crops and poultry), and anthracite coal mining. Area 460 square miles (1,191 square km). Pop. (2000) 94,556; (2010) 94,528.